2017 CAR ANNUAL STAFF RETREAT REPORT
Date: April 19th, 2017.
Venue: Conference Hall, Entrepreneurship Building
Resource Speakers: Hajiya Bilkisu Talatu Ahmed (NASRDA), Dr Mrs. Justina Ekere (UNN), Mr Samuel Ogunjo (FUTA)
Arrival of Staff: 8:30 am
This special event kicked off with opening prayers citied from the second stanza of the national anthem, after which the national anthem was sung along by the participants in attendance. A one minute silence was held in respect to the Director of the Centre for Basic Space Science (CBSS) Prof. Felix Okpara who passed on to the great beyond the week before. The Director of the centre, Prof Babatunde Rabiu made a brief opening remark which set in motion the activities of the day.
The first resource speaker, Hajiya Bilkisu Talatu Ahmed, an Assistant Director Welfare & General Matters, Department of Admin. & Finance. NASRDA headquarters spoke at length on the Adherence to Civil Service Rules which caught the attention of members of staff, questions and comments were thrown at the end of the talk. A tea break of a quarter of an hour followed suit which allowed participants to go on a refreshing break where desserts was served.
The next series of presentations were from members of staff in several research laboratories across the country. First to mount the podium was Mr Najib, the coordinator of the Space Weather Atmospheric Project (SWAP) Laboratory situated in the Bayero University, Kano. He spoke at length on the activities of the laboratory. Next in line was Mr Elemo, the coordinator of the newly established Space Earth Environmental Research Laboratory (SEERL) citied on the premises of the University of Benin, who gave an insight on the success stories and challenges of the Laboratory so far. The next speaker Dr Dan Okoh, who is the coordinator at the Space Environmental Research Laboratory (SERL), located in the premises of the NASRDA headquarters in Abuja. He gave a detailed insight of the activities in the laboratory since its inception and the success recorded so far to the delight of the audience. Mr Sani from the Air Quality Research Laboratory (AQRL) in the University of Ilorin was next in line to brief the audience on the recent happenings in the research laboratory. Comments and questions were entertained from the audience, which drew the session to a close. Luncheon was served afterwards.
The next speaker, Dr Mrs Justina Ekere from the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) spoke on matters of the pocket with a topic Developing a Culture of Financial Discipline. She held the audience spellbound with her expertise on the subject which borders on curbing financial excess, spouse knowledge of paychecks to mention but a few. This particular session drew lots of comments and questions from the audience. The last but not least of the speakers Mr Samuel Ogunjo, a promising young scientist from the Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA) who spoke on the Non Linear Approach to the Study of the Atmosphere. He gave a brief insight on his work which bordered on applying theoretical physics on the study of the atmosphere. Comments and questions came afterwards and a collaboration with him was also muted.
The chairman of the organizing committee Mr Alfa Daniel made a brief speech appreciating the undiluted support received from the Director and the relentless shift put in by the members of his committee which included Engr Seye, Mrs Onu, Mr Nkem and Mr Micheal. A closing remark was made by the Director of the Centre who was delighted by the success of the retreat, commended and enjoined members of the staff to work harder to propel the Centre to greater heights. The deputy director, Dr James Ogah gave the vote of thanks. The closing prayers were said and the curtain was drawn on the event. The whole participants on attendance now proceeded to the new site of the Center for a group photograph.
Some of the pictures captured during the retreat:
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